Children’s Dentistry

As soon as their first tooth appears, or by their first birthday at the latest. Those early visits aren't really about treatment - they're about your child sitting in the chair, having a ride up and down, and learning that the dentist is a normal, unthreatening place. Children who start early tend to grow into adults who don't dread appointments.

NHS dental care is free for under-18s, and we're able to see children under our NHS contract free of charge when a parent joins us on Denplan. It's one of the reasons a lot of local families register with us together. Give us a ring and we'll explain how it works for your family.

We go at their pace. First visits are often just a look and a count, with nothing else attempted, and we build from there over several appointments if that's what it takes. We explain things in words they understand, we never spring anything on them, and we're happy for you to bring them along to your own appointment first so they can see there's nothing to it.

Usually every six months, though some children need to be seen more often - particularly during the years when adult teeth are coming through, or if they're prone to decay. We'll tell you what's right for your child rather than applying the same interval to everyone.

Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, supervised until they're around seven, and keeping sugary food and drink to mealtimes does most of the work. We'll also apply preventive treatments where they're suitable and go through diet with you honestly - it's very often the drinks between meals rather than sweets that cause the damage.

It's usually worth an assessment around age 11 to 13, once most of the adult teeth are through. We'll tell you if it's something to watch, something we can help with, or something better handled elsewhere. Older teenagers often ask about clear aligners rather than fixed braces, and we're happy to talk that through too.